Lacrymaria velutina??? for ID please

[richickle]

Hi everyone,

Went on a stroll yesterday but very dry and didn't find much. I did find these growing out of a dry mud and grass bank next to an old fallen tree trunk in a ditch. The larger of the two is 4cm across the cap. It has a black spore print and a very tough cream/brown fibrous stem about 4-5cm long with no volva or ring. The cap is a fallow brown colour and is almost bell shaped. Found a few growing together out of the bank but spread about over about a square foot - not in a clump.

I think it could be Lacrymaria velutina but I a beginner and would love to hear what a few more experienced members think please.

Thanks for your time - Rich

[Ditiola]

Hi
Fresh fungi can be hard to identify but dried up ones are even harder especially without the help of a microscope. I suggest going back when there are fresh specimens and then checking whether they weep drops of liquid from their gills

Peter

[richickle]

thanks Peter - may be next weekend before I can get back. hopefully have some rain before then and maybe some new fruits to look at. i willl check for the "tears".

Rich

[ManwithNoname]

Lacrymaria lacrymabunda (or Lacrymaria velutina if you prefer) is actually relatively easy to identify in the field once you get your eye in.

Unfortunately it's a bit harder when the photos aren't quite in focus.

But I'd say your photos show the important characters, nevertheless, such as the remains of the partial veil around the edge of the cap, the ring zone on the stem where the fibrils of the veil have caught the dark spores and the dark purplish-brown gills (which should appear mottled to the naked eye but I can't quite make this out).

So I'd concur with your identification.

[richickle]

sorry - pics were taken with my little digicam rather than my slr!!! thanks for your help. rich